Environmental Systems and Societies Flashcards

Flashcards for key vocabulary terms from the Environmental Systems and Societies lecture notes.

Earth Day

Helped galvanize global environmental awareness and promoted grassroots movements.

Silent Spring

Rachel Carson’s 1962 book exposed the dangers of pesticides, sparking the environmental movement.

Chernobyl Disaster

A nuclear explosion in Ukraine that highlighted the catastrophic risks of nuclear energy.

Minamata Disease

Caused by mercury pollution from a chemical plant in Japan, raising awareness about industrial pollution.

Natural Capital

Resources that can be naturally replenished (forests), replenished over time (groundwater), or are finite (coal).

Millennium Ecosystem Assessment

This global report detailed how human activity impacts ecosystem services.

DDT

Originally used as a pesticide, it caused bioaccumulation in food chains.

Fundamental Niches

Potential living conditions for a species.

Realized Niches

Actual living conditions due to competition.

Predation

Wolves hunting deer.

Herbivory

Cows grazing on grass.

Parasitism

Ticks on mammals.

Mutualism

Bees pollinating flowers.

Disease

Myxomatosis in rabbits.

Competition

Lions and hyenas competing for prey.

Food Chains

A basic example includes grass (producer) → rabbit (primary consumer) → fox (secondary consumer) → fungi (decomposer).

Bioaccumulation and Biomagnification

Mercury in tuna demonstrates how toxins concentrate as they move up the food chain.

Human Activities

Deforestation disrupts carbon cycles, while fossil fuel combustion releases stored carbon.

Zonation

Altitude causes changes in species distribution in mountain ecosystems.

Primary Succession

After a volcanic eruption, pioneer species colonize bare rock, followed by grasses, shrubs, and climax communities.

Secondary Succession

After forest fires, grasses and weeds grow first, then shrubs, and eventually mature trees.

R-strategists

Reproduce quickly with many offspring (e.g., frogs).

K-strategists

Invest in fewer offspring with higher survival rates (e.g., elephants).

Tropical Forests

High biodiversity, warm climates, and year-round productivity.

Temperate Forests

Seasonal variation and less biodiversity.

Deserts

Hot, with sparse vegetation.

Tundras

Cold, with short growing seasons and permafrost.

Abiotic Components

Include temperature, pH, light intensity, soil moisture, and wind speed.

Mass Extinctions

Causes include asteroid impacts, volcanic activity, and climate shifts.

Extinct (Dodo)

Became extinct due to overhunting and habitat destruction in Mauritius.

Critically Endangered (Amur Leopard)

Threatened by habitat loss and poaching.

Conservation Success (Giant Panda)

Population improved due to habitat restoration and anti-poaching laws.

Zimbabwe’s CAMPFIRE initiative

Balances wildlife conservation with community development by promoting sustainable ecotourism.

Biodiversity Threats in Tropical Biomes (Amazon)

Deforestation for agriculture and logging reduces biodiversity, disrupts water cycles, and accelerates climate change.

Protected Area Success (Yellowstone National Park)

Demonstrates effective conservation, including reintroducing wolves, which improved ecosystem health.

Keystone Species (Sea Otters)

Maintain kelp forests by controlling sea urchin populations.

Charismatic Species (Tigers)

Attract global conservation efforts and funding.

Human Influence (Colorado River Basin)

Agricultural water diversion has reduced river flow, impacting ecosystems and water availability downstream.

International Conflict (Nile Basin)

Arises from Ethiopia’s dam construction, affecting downstream countries like Egypt and Sudan.

Controversial Harvesting

Inuit communities hunt whales sustainably, contrasting with industrial whaling.

Unsustainable Fishing (Bluefin Tuna)

Overfishing has led to population declines, prompting stricter management policies.

Aquaculture Impacts (Shrimp Farming in Thailand)

Causes mangrove destruction, reducing biodiversity and increasing coastal erosion.

Pollution Examples

Industrial runoff pollutes freshwater systems, while marine pollution includes oil spills and plastic debris.

Eutrophication (Lake Erie)

Agricultural runoff causes algal blooms, depleting oxygen and harming aquatic life.

Industrial Beef Farming in the U.S.

Requires high energy inputs and causes significant pollution.

Traditional Maasai Livestock Practices

Low-input and culturally significant.

Industrial Farming

Relies on chemical inputs and heavy machinery.

Subsistence Farming

Uses manual labor and minimal inputs, with lower yields.

Montreal Protocol

This international agreement successfully reduced CFC emissions, helping to restore the ozone layer.

Impacts (Acid Deposition)

Harms aquatic ecosystems, damages forests, and erodes buildings.

Renewables (Advantages/Disadvantages)

Solar energy is sustainable but intermittent; wind power requires large land areas.

Non-Renewables (Advantages/Disadvantages)

Coal is reliable but polluting; nuclear is efficient but risky.

Energy Security (Denmark)

Invests in wind energy to reduce reliance on fossil fuels.

Energy Security (Ethiopia)

Focuses on hydropower.

Negative Impacts (Climate Change)

Pacific islands face coastal inundation due to rising sea levels.

Positive Impacts (Climate Change)

Warmer temperatures increase growing seasons in some northern regions.

Al Gore (Viewpoints)

Advocates for urgent climate action.

Stern Report (Viewpoints)

Emphasizes economic benefits of mitigation.

CO₂ Removal

Techniques include afforestation and carbon capture/storage.

Strategies (London’s Thames Barrier)

Protects against sea-level rise.

Strategies (Bangladesh)

Uses floating farms to adapt to flooding.

International Efforts (Paris Agreement)

Aims to limit global warming to 1.5°C.

International Efforts (IPCC)

Synthesizes scientific findings

Demographic Transition

HICs like Japan are in the final stage, with aging populations, while LICs like Nigeria are in earlier stages, experiencing rapid growth.

Population Policies (China's One-Child Policy)

Slowed population growth.

Population Policies (Singapore's Pro-Natalist Policies)

Encouraged higher birth rates.

Ecosystem Services

Include pollination (supporting), carbon storage (regulating), timber (provisioning), and tourism (cultural).

Dynamic Resources

Oil became less viable with renewable energy advances; solar energy has grown due to cost reductions.

Waste Disposal

Landfills are cheap but polluting; incineration reduces volume but emits toxins; composting benefits soil but requires labor.

The 6Rs

Promote sustainability.

Footprint Comparison

The U.S. has a high ecological footprint due to consumption, while Bangladesh’s is lower due to limited industrialization.